Last year, the voters sent
a crystal clear message that they were fed up with the way things were
being run in Goffstown. Fueled by selectmen's continued defiance
of the will of the voters by failing once again to establish 24/7
coverage, firing the fire chief and attempting to merge the police and
fire departments, Goffstown's voters began a shakeup in Town Hall the
likes of which hadn't been seen in years.
Dick Georgantas, a long term incumbent on the planning board, was voted
out of office. So was chairman and incumbent selectman Gossett
McRae. Perennial selectman Robert Wheeler apparently saw the handwriting on
the wall and decided not to run at all. Three separate petition
articles appeared on the warrant demanding that the BOS stop their
efforts to merge the police and fire departments. Three more
demanded reinstatement of the fire chief, and yet another required that
in order to serve as selectman, residency in Goffstown would be
required. All passed by wide
margins.
Voters also expressed anger over rising taxes and spending. Two
other petition articles requested that control of the Town operating budget be turned over to the
Budget Committee. And three TIF articles, along with other spending
requests for Grasmere Town Hall renovations and the purchase of an
excavator, failed.
Most notable was the election of newcomers John Caprio and Nick
Campasano to the Board of Selectmen. Running amidst a field of
seven candidates, they combined to garner over 57% of the total votes
cast. This infusion of new blood has already begun to show results
- no easy task considering they have been outnumbered on the BOS all
year by long-term members Phil D'Avanza, Barbara Griffin and Bruce
Hunter.
In short, the result of the March 2006 vote was the beginning of
sweeping changes in Goffstown government, courtesy of the
voters.
FINISH WHAT WE STARTED
But voters must stay the course if the ultimate mission is to be
accomplished. Putting long-time politicians like Bruce Hunter or
Scott Gross (or worse, both) on the Board of Selectmen this year would do nothing more
than stifle the efforts of Caprio and Campasano, and effectively put the
brakes on any forthcoming changes in our town government. We've
already seen Hunter in action (if you can call it that), and Gross'
reputation as a mega-spender is already well known. If the goals
of lowering taxes and restoring integrity and accountability in our town
government are
ever to be met, the voters must finish what they started in 2006.
HELP CAPRIO AND CAMPASANO SUCCEED
Caprio and Campasano will need your help to continue the work they began last
year. Fortunately, they will no longer have to deal with the
constant roadblocks Griffin threw their way last year, as she is not
seeking re-election. But Hunter has already shown his disdain for
the efforts of Caprio and Campasano, and Gross - little more than
another 'Wheeler-in-the-making' - we believe has his own agenda and will
certainly spend us all right out of town.
We urge voters to continue on the road to lowering taxes and restoring
integrity and accountability in Goffstown government by electing Tricia Wynne
and Vivian Blondeau to the board of selectmen. Both
are fiscal
conservatives, and both have stood solidly behind the many initiatives of
Caprio and Campasano all year. Wynne and Blondeau are our best bet for ultimately
finishing what we started last year.
We voters made a real difference in 2006. Now, we must stay the course
in 2007.
|
